A Maiden on a Voyage
The original idea from my journal pages was to show my collection of vintage cameras in the first of my posts. But, as is often the case... my story took an unexpected twist.
So firstly who can guess what lies within? And who had one as their first camera?
Yes, this is my little Kodak Brownie and it was, and still is, very precious to me. I don't know where it came from but I owned it from the age of about 7 or 8. I took it on all our family holidays. The photos are stashed away in my mum's loft.
My grandad and dad were keen photographers and both had darkrooms. Together with my own Brownie camera, this bakelite Olbia camera is another firm favourite and belonged to my grandad.
My grandad, grandma and dad used to cycle the length and breadth of England on holiday and along the way take photos. I can't imagine how they found the energy to cycle so far... but somehow they did! They were robust people. I love browsing through the many hundreds of their photographs which are now in my possession. I think it's such a shame that they didn't document their journeys in writing for future generations to read. A little settings guide and hand-written chart is tucked in the old leather case.
Not so long ago I spotted a photo of the SS United States in the photo box - I thought it could've been taken either in the port of Liverpool here in the Northwest of England or more likely down on the south coast in Southampton where they used to go on holiday. The dockland areas in those times were a hive of activity. I had relatives who sailed over to the States in the 1920s to start new lives - adventurous times for them. There are plenty of scanned passenger lists available to view online and they make interesting reading.
When I posted this on various social media sites, my friend and one of my very favourite bloggers Sally (aka Radish) mentioned that she recalled sailing across the ocean from the US to England during the 1950s. Well I truly couldn't let this opportunity slip away .... I had to find out more about her journey! It was such an honour for me when Sally agreed to share her memories.
And so over to Sally:
“In 1955 I was 15, and I sailed with my family on the maiden voyage of the USS United States.The idea of the ship as I remember it, was that it was supposed to be a transport ship for the troops. But as there was no war at the moment, it was dressed up to be a passenger ship to be used back and forth from US to Europe.
Our family sailed third class, and our rooms were more or less in the bowels of the ship and to rear as I remember. Our rooms were small and had no windows, and it was impossible to tell on the lower levels if it were night or day. My brothers and sisters and I were in bunks. Above decks had open areas that were nice enough for kids, but I am sure that my parents would have loved to have been sailing in second class. I liked to go outside on the decks and walk in the wind.
There was a large dining room with two meal seatings, and we went to the second seating because my parents liked cocktails first. I think there were three bars in third class and my parents had their preferences. There was a movie theater that showed first class movies every day.
I had the most fun on that ship crossing, I think of my whole life. Being 15, although I told everyone I was 16, made it so. My parents were very protective of me, and at home I had curfews, but for some reason on the crossings over and back I was allowed to run free with the exception I had to show up for meals and their cocktail hour. I had no curfew. I fell madly in love both going and coming back. One with one young college freshman going over and another different young man coming back. The first one wore a tweed jacket and had white buck shoes. We danced until the band quit. On the trip back I was the youngest of a group/pack and we actually conned our way to other classes on the ship. I was terrified that I would get caught but I went and I didn’t. On the way back to America, one young man, who was really older than me but today would remind me of a very young Robert Downey, Jr., he kind of took me under his wing, though at a distance, and I was really madly in love.
Although it was the end of May, it seems like the crossing was very rough. Many people were seasick and in their bunks, as was I a little, but due to the men in my teenage life and the excitement I did not have the time to cave to actually throwing up. Many times few people showed up for meals. Sometimes the table cloths were wet so the dishes would stay on the table. The amount of food and the choice was amazing: cakes, pies, puddings, ice-creams, cream puffs. For me the choice of desserts and the number we were allowed to have was astounding. We rarely had dessert at home. I think I concentrated on desserts.
One thing I remember clearly is on the way home to New York, we all got up early on the last morning to see the Statue of Liberty at dawn. It was so beautiful, and I was so proud to be an American.
”
Thank you so much to Sally for sharing your precious memories!
I'm sure you'll agree with me this that is a fascinating account and it has left me wanting more!!
Edit: I miss dearest Sally. Sadly she passed away in January 2017. Across the ocean she encouraged me and many of my creative friends during my early days of blogging and digital photography. I do remember revealing the first version of my website to her and she strongly disliked it and told me so in not so many words! I valued her honest opinion. Of course she was right and within 24 hours I changed it!